Fear and uncertainty are spreading across the South-East after the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) declared February 2 a total sit-at-home in the region.

According to the group, the sit-at-home is in solidarity with Onitsha Main Market traders, whom they say are suffering due to the actions of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo. IPOB warned that no markets, schools, banks, offices, or businesses should open on that day.

For ordinary residents, the announcement has already sparked anxiety and worry. Traders are nervous about the fate of their shops, parents are unsure whether schools will hold, and commuters fear possible confrontations on the roads. Many have begun planning to stay indoors, recalling previous sit-at-home orders when people who stepped out faced harassment or worse.

A resident of Onitsha, who asked not to be named, said, “People are scared. Everyone is trying to figure out how to survive the day. You don’t want to risk stepping out, even for essentials.”

As of now, the Anambra State Government has not responded, and security agencies are yet to issue guidance. Across towns and cities in the South-East, a tense silence hangs, as everyone waits to see what February 2 will bring.